Banjar Red Arowana 5-6"

The Banjar Red Arowana (also known as the "Grade 2 Red" or "1.5 Red") is a popular variety of the Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) native to the Banjarmasin river system in Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is widely considered an excellent budget-friendly, entry-level option for aquarists who want to keep a true Asian Arowana without paying the premium prices of a Super Red.

Physical Appearance & Color Shift

The Banjar Red undergoes a dramatic visual transformation as it grows from a juvenile into a mature adult:

Juveniles: Young fish highly resemble premium Super Red juveniles. They sport bright, vibrant orange-red to red fins. Their scales display a silver, metallic greenish-yellow hue.

Adults: As the fish matures, the red coloration on the body does not develop like a true

Super Red. Instead, the body fades to a dull grayish-green or yellowish hue, while the fins and tail typically transition to a lighter red, orange, or yellow.

Aquarium Care & Requirements

Tank Size: A single adult needs a minimum of 200 to 300 gallons (approx. 750–1,100 liters). They are active swimmers and require long, wide tanks rather than tall ones.

Water Conditions: Keep the water soft and slightly acidic. Maintain a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and keep temperatures stable between 75°F and 86°F (24°C to 30°C).

Diet: They are strict carnivores. Feed them a varied diet of superworms, crickets, feeder fish, raw shrimp, and high-quality arowana pellets.

Tank Setup: Use a highly secure, heavy lid. Arowanas are powerful jumpers and will leap out of the tank if startled.